Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-05
lxouLATING THE RAILROADS

n Interstate Commerce Commits
tI IAN its sessions In the Council Chamber
b ~ Oity Hall, at Atlanta, Ga, on the 9th
M The commission expressed q desire 10
hear icom the railways, and a list Of witnesses
was givon The first witness examined was
Charles A. sindall, Secretary Of the Southern
Railway and Steamship Association. He
gave minute explanations of how rates are
made and maintained by railroads and
water Inca He was cross-examined ut
great length by Judge Cooley. Com
missioners Walker and Bragg. 4. M. Emer-
son, of the Atlantic Coast Line, and
W. p Shelman Of the Georgia Central Rail-
road were also examined on the same points
at great length Mr. Ogden, Of the Southern
Railway aud Steamship Association, testified
touching the difference between water rates
and land rates He said that to q great ex-
tent, water rates controlled the rates Of the
railroads. He showed how rates on certain
classes OF freight would be affected IL the long
and short hauls should DO enforced Sol
Haas, Of Richmond, Va, agent Of the
associated roads Of Virginia and the Caro-
linas, testified that rates on his lines were
COubTOlltO ny thic VI lAlCb uuu WatoA AOutoS
the only complaint had been from competitive
points J. M Culp, Of the Louisville and
Nashville Road, said that rates from the West
to the South were controlled by ocean compe-
tition. The rates to various Southern cities
were affected by water competition. Col. & A.
Pierce, President OF the Columbia Is o. Board
of Trade, read q memorial from that body set
ting forth the serious damage that would result
to the farming community and shipping in
marketing their commodities il the fourth
section were enforced About dozen other
citizens presented similar memorials. A large
number Of colored men petitioned for the en-
forcement Of their right to equal accommoda-
tons on the railroads. kilograms were re-
ceived from the Cotton Exchange and Board
of Trade Of Savannah asking that Sec be
enforced A Washington dispatch says @the
Commissions correspondence is increasing
very fast and Secretary Mosely now has a
force Of five clerks and q messenger hard OF
work classifying it and answering such as can
be answered in accordance with decisions al
ready made"
The Interstate Commission concluded
it's sittings at Atlanta on the 2Sth ult and left
for Mobile. memorial was received from
the Wilmington On. o. Chamber of Commerce
and Produce Exchange strongly urging the en-
forcement Of the long and short haul
section. A memorial was presented
from business men Of Opelika, Ala
bama, showing how railroads Disseminated
against that town in favor Of Columbus and
Montgomery. Judge Chisholm, counsel Of
the Plant system, made an argument favor
ing the suspension Of the long and short haul
clause. He was followed by Gen. F. p. Alex
ander, President Of the Georgia Central Road,
on the same side. The Tacoma (W IT, Cham
Der Of Commerce has written the Commission,
asking that transcontinental lines be exempted
from the operation of Section A. 1t repre-
sents that freight rates between New York,
Chicago, and the Pacific coast have ad-
vanced between 100 and 200 per cent, and
adds: @If q strict construction Of the law is
adhered to, the effect will be practically pro-
hibitory of either emigration from or to the
East, and our Territory will suffer meal
culable injury. The following letter from
Judge Cooley, addressed to the Siss,ters OF st
Joseph, st. Louis, NO., explains itself:
Yours OF the 14th inst, requesting that the
railroad companies be authorized TO give you
| free transportation, as they have been accus
toned to do, has been received and considered
| and the Commission regrets that 1t can make
no order upon them for your benefit. The rail-
| road companies must determine for themselves
what shall DO their policy ia the granting of IA
vors TO persons engaged In religious works. Tho
statute, in plain terms, allows the giving OF re-
duced rates to minister's Of religion, and IL they
are given on some general and impartial rule
/ no question of its legality could arise, and M
railroad company could have occasion TO teal
penalties.
A numerously signed petition from
citizens Of California was received in Wash
ington requesting the commission not to sus
pend the operation of section 4 80 far as tho
Pacific coast is concerned, until an opportun-
ity be afforded all persons interested TO b.
heard.